Well packing device



Nov. 19, 1940n R. c. BAKER WELL PACKING DEVICE Filed Aug. 9, 1939Patented Nov. 19, 1940 PATE WELL PACKING DEVICE Application August 9,1939, Serial No. 289,127

13 Claims.

This invention relates to well packers designed to be lowered within andsecured to well casings, for the purpose of performing specificfunctions therein.

In my prior led application, Packings for well devices, Serial No.271,941, led May 5, 1939, now

Patent No. 2,204,648, granted June 18, 1940, of

which the present application is a continuationin-part, I have discloseda Well packer in the form of a cement retainer embodying a packingsleeve of natural or synthetic rubber. This sleeve is initiallymaintained inwardly from the well casing topermit the retainer to belowered therethrough without impedance. Upon reaching the l5 desiredsetting point in the casing, the retainer slips are set and a uid-tightseal eiected by compressing the rubber packing between lthe main body ofthe retainer and the casing. While in this compressed state, andparticularly where V high compressive pressures and temperature arepresent, the packing sleeve has a tendency to ilow through annularspaces existing between the casing and the packer, in some instancesbeing completely dissipated through these spaces and leavingsubstantially no packing material for performing the requisite sealingaction. In the application referred to, such cold or plastic flowing ofthe rubber packing has been overcome by the provision of annular leadsealing rings which are expanded outwardly upon compression of thepacking' sleeve to effectively bridge the annular gaps and conne thepacking for sealing action at the intended region between the packerbody and casing.

Although the provision of the lead sealing rings is an eiectiveinstrumentality for preventing cold flowing of the retainer packing, insome forms ofv packers uid under pressure is employed for setting thepacking slips and also for engaging the o sleeve with the casing. Thisfluid usually passes through side ports or holes in the body and actsupon the interior of the sleeve to stretch or expand it in the properdirection to set the slips. Thereafter, a strain is taken on the packerbody to more securely set or embed the slips in the walls of the casing'and compress the packing between the body and the conning casing. As

, stated above, the lead sealing rings prevent cold flowing of therelatively plastic and pliable rubber through the annular spaces betweenthe casing and the packer parts, but heretofore no provision has beenmade for preventing such ccld owing through the uid ports establishingcommunication between the interior of the body and the packing. Thepacking material has been per- (Cl. 16B-12) mitted to be displacedthrough these ports, and is consequently unavailable for the performanceof its intended sealing or packing-oli action.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome theaforementioned diii'iculties by preventing cold owing of plastic sealingmaterial through duid ports or other openings in the packer, therebyconning the packing material to the region Where it is proposed that aneffective seal between the packer and the casing 10 be made.

The invention has other objects that will become apparent from aconsideration of the embodiments shown in the drawing accompanying andforming part of the present specification. 15 These forms will. now bedescribed in detail, but it is to be understood that such detaileddescription is not to be taken in a limited sense, since the scope ofthe invention is best dened by the appended claims. 20

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view'of a well packer embodying theinvention positioned within a well casing;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, with the 25 upper slips in setposition;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the packer in fully setposition;

figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary section of one of the valve devicesoperable within a fluid 3@ port; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figure l of a modied form of valve device,shown in closed position.

The well packer A is shown coupled to the end of a string of tubing B orthe like with its parts 35 in retracted position to permit freedom oipassage through the casing C to the desired setting point. The packerincludes a main body Iii carrying a set, of upper annular segmentalslips Il adapted to be moved into engagement with the casing by 40 anupper expander cone l2 initially retained in retracted position by oneor more shear screws I3 attaching it to the main body. The upper slipsare similarly retained in retracted 'or ineffective position byrespective shear screws l, l5 45 securing them to the cone and mainbody. A lower set of annular segmental slips i6 is held initially inretracted position and attached to the main body by shear screws l1, andto a lower expander cone i8 through other shear screws I9, 50 thislatter cone being initially held in ineffective position by suitablefrangible connections in the form of shear screws 20. The upper sets ofscrews have alower shear value than the lower sets to permit priorsetting of the upper slips. j v 55 A packing sleeve 2| of synthetic ornatural rubber is positioned between and suitably secured to the ends ofthe expander cones I2, |8, being retained initially free from contactwith the casing walls but being capable of expansion and contractioninto engagement therewith and with the main body of the packer.

A valve assembly housing 22 is threadedly 'secured to the lower end ofthe main packer body, and contains a tripping ball seat 23 initiallysecured to it by a shear screw 24. This seat has an upstanding arm 25for holding a buoyant back pressure ball 2B in ineffective positionagainst the interior of the housing to prevent its seating against avalve seat 21 provided at the lower end of the main body I0. Removal ofthis arm through a proper operation of the packer device will permit theball to be positioned on its cooperable valve seat whenever` reverse owof uid through the body tends to occur.

The packer A is run intothe casing to the desired point and circulationestablished therethrough to remove any undesired foreign matter..

Thereafter, a tripping ball 28 is lowered or pumped down through thetubing to seating engagement with the tripping ball seat 23, permittingincrease of the pressure of the fluid within the packer body and itspassage through ports or holes 29 opening through the body into theinterior of the packing 2|. This fluid under pressure will elongate thepacking sleeve and slide the cone l2 upwardly along the body I0 todisrupt the various shear screws I3, I4, I5 and expand the upper slipsoutwardly into gripping engagement with the casing. The extent of thisupward movement is limited by a setting ring 3|) suitably attached tothe upper end of the main body.

After setting the upper slips, thepressure of the uid is increased toshear the pin 24 holding the tripping ball seat 23 to the valve housingand remove the seat together with its upstanding arm 25 entirelytherefrom, allowing the back pressure ball 26 to seat whenever reverseflow of fluid tends to occur. The taking of an upwardly directed strainon the tubing B and main body of the packer will compress the packingsleeve between the casing wall and the exterior of the main body, andwill then cause failure of the screws I'I, I9, 20 holding the lowerslips and cone to the body, whereupon engagement of the abutment 3| atthe end of the body with the slips I6 will move them longitudinallyalong the face of the expander cone |8 and radially into engagement withthe casing. The various slips, cones, and packing sleeve are held inthis position by an annular split dog 32 contained within a groove 33 inthe upper cone I2 engaging one-way circular ratchet teeth 34 provided inthe body of the retainer (See Figure 3). The packer is now in settingposition for the performance of a cementing operation or to function asa bridge plug or otherwise, as explained in United States Patent No.2,121,051, to which attention is invited.

In the above identified application, cold flowing of the packing 2|through the annular spaces between the expander cones I2 and the casingC is prevented by providing annular seals'of lead 35, or other pliablebut inelastic material, around the terminal portions of the sleeve.However, the compression of the sleeve 2| still tends to force thepacking material through the fluid holes or ports 29. In the instantcase, this tendency is offset .or prevented by providing ow stop plugs36 within each port, which function like one-way valve devices. Thus,the exterior of the body is recessed around each port to form a seat 3`Ifor a cooperable valve head 38 extending outwardly from a tubular valvemember 39 slidably tting within each port. The tubular member has holesor openings 40 through its walls below the valve head 38 to permitpassage of fluid from the interior of the main body through the tubularmember and outwardly therefrom through the openings to the interior ofthe packing sleeve. Upon seating of the valve head 38, this path of flowis disruptedl particularly in a reverse direction.

It will accordingly be seen that uid under pressure can pass into theinterior of the packing sleeve to produce its elongation and setting ofthe upper slips. Flow of liquid in this manner will move the valve head38 from its seat 31 and position the holes 40 in communication with theinterior .of the sleeve. The release of pressure in the uid will enablethe inherent resiliency or elasticity in the packing sleeve 2| tore-seat the head 38 and interrupt the fluid passage. This resiliency orpressure exerted by the sleeve is at a maximum when it is in acompressed state after the complete setting operation has beenperformed, and exerts a degree of pressure against the valve head 38greater than the force of the fluid within the main body produced duringthe cementing operation, or otherwise. Accordingly, after completesetting of the packer, the flow plugs 36 are held in closedposition,allowing no material opening to remain -through which coldflowing of the packing sleeve can occur.

A modified form of flow stop plug is disclosed in Figure 5, whereincommunication between the interior of the tubular valve member 39 andthe interior of the sleeve 2| is established through the provision of a.transverse slot 40a cut through the wall1of the tubular member. Informing this slot, a slight portion of the underside of the valve head38 is also removed so that upon seating of the head on t'seat 31 a smallfluid passage 4| still remains between the interior of the tubularmember 39 and the interior of the sleeve. This arrangement offersassurance that uid will not be trapped within the interior of the sleeveupon its being compressed during the packing-off action, since suchfluid can readily escape through the slight passage 4| back to theinterior of the main body |0. However, it is to be noted that thispassage is of insuiiicient dimensions to allow .cold owing of theelastic packing sleeve 2| through it.

The transverse slot 40a is a simple expedient for not only providing apath of ow between the interiors of the tubular member 39 and the sleeve2|, but its use effects a saving in manufacturing cost since the slightrecess at the underside of the head can be produced by the same cut thatforms the slot. It is to be understood, however, that the same result ofpermitting escape of fluid could 'be accomplished in the Figure 4 andFigure 5 valve embodiments by knurling or otherwise roughening theunderside of the head, thereby producing an imperfect contact between itand the valve seat 3I and allowing leakage or passage of fluid from theinterior of the packing ,sleeve 2| upon its compression.

It is apparent, therefore, that the pliable packing 2| will be confinedto the intended v,region within the casing C, being prevented frommoving into the annular spaces between the casing and the conicalretainers I2, I8 by the lead sealing rings 35, and from fiowing'throughthe ports 29 by the seating action of the now stop plugs SI upon theircooperable valve seats.

1. In a well packer, a body adapted to be lowered in a casing, a packingcarried by said body for eilecting a seal between said body and casing,means .providing a fluid passage establishing communication between theinterior of said body and said packing, and a device cooperable withsaid passage and operable by said packing to substantially clos'esaidpassage upon movement of said packing toward said passage.

2. In a well packer, a body adapted to be lowered in a casing, a pliablepacking carried by said body for effecting a seal between said body andcasing, means providing a uid passage establishing communication betweensaid packing and the interior of said body, and a valve device operableby said packing to stop the ow of iiuid through said passage.

- 3. In a well packer,.a body having a iluid passage adapted to belowered in a casing, a packing around said body for effecting a sealbetween said body and casing, said body having a port establishingcommunication between said Apassage and the interior of said packing,and a valve device for said port adapted to be urged by said packing Amoved outwardly to to close said port.

4. In a well packer, a body having a iluld passage `adapted to beloweredin a casing, a pliable packing sleeve encompassing said body toeiect a seal between it and said casing, said body having a portestablishing communication between said passage andthe interior of saidsleeve, and

a one-way valve device slidable in said portand adapted to be urgedto'closed position by said sleeve when under stress.

5. In a well packer, a. body adapted to be lowered in a casing andhaving a uid passage, a packing sleeve encompassing said body to effecta'seal between it and said casing, said body having one or more portsestablishing communication between said passage and the interior of saidsleeve, and a one-way valve device in each port and contactable by saidsleeve to be urged -thereby tol a position substantially closing itsassociated port.

6. A well packer as denned in claim 5,' said one-way valve devicecomprising a hollow stem slidable within said port and having an openingtransversely therethrough adapted to be closed by the walls ot saidport, and adapted to be open position with said sleeve.

'7. A well packer as denedin claim 5, said one-way valve devicecomprising a hollow stem slidable within said port and having an openingtransverselyftherethrough adapted to be closed by the walls of said portand moved outwardly to open position within said sleeve, and a head onsaid stem contactable with the exterior of said body to limit inwardmovement of said stem.

8. In a well packer, a body adapted to be lowered in a casing and havinga iluid passage, slips carried by said body .for engagement with saidcasing, means for expanding said slips toward l said casing comprising apacking sleeve encompassing said body to eilect a seal between it andsaid casing, said body having one or more ports establishingcommunication between said passage and the interior of said sleeve, avalve device for each port comprising a stem slidable in each port and ahead on said stem engageable .with said packing to be urged thereby toseating engagement with said body to substantially close its associatedport.

9..In a well packer, a body adapted to be lowered in a casing and havinga Iiuid passage, slips carried by said body for engagement with saidcasing, means for expanding said slips encompassing said body to effecta seal between it and said casing, said body having a port establishingcommunication between said passage v and the interior of said sleeve,and a valve devicefor said port engageable with said packing pand saidslips into engagement with said casing,

a packing sleeve secured at one end to said cone and encompassing saidbody to eiect al seal between it and said casing, said body having aport establishing communication between said passage and the interior ofsaid sleeve, and a valve device for said port engageable with saidpacking to be urged thereby to close said p ort.

11. In a well packer, a body adapted to be lowered in a casing andhaving a fluid passage, upper and lower sets of slips carried by saidbody for engagement with said casing, a cone slidable on said body toexpand said upper'slips into engagement with said casing, a cone carriedby said body to expand said lower slips into engagement with saidcasing, a packing sleeve secured to said cones and encompassing saidbody to effect a seal between it and said casing, said body having aport intermediate said cones providing communicationV between saidpassage and the interior otsaid sleeve, and a valve device for said portengageable with said packing to be urged thereby to close said port.

12. A well packer as denned by claim 11, said valve device comprising ahollow stem slidable in said port and provided with a transverse openingadapted to be positioned outwardly of said body by fluid under pressure,and a head on said stem engageable with said sleeve to be urged therebyto seating engagement against said body to close said port.

said sleeve, means for compressing said sleeve to decrease its lengthand cause it to completely ll the intervening space betweensaid body andcasing, and a one-way valve device in each port contactable by saidsleeve upon its compression `toward said casing comprising a packingsleeve I to be moved thereby to a position substantially closing itsassociated port.

REUBEN C. BAKER..

